Ink separator for printing apparatus



Bea 1949 R. R. RICHTER 2,492,11

' INK SEPARATOR FOR PRINTING APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1946 'MAZMW ATTORNEYS.

' Patented Dec. 27, 1949 lNKflS-E-PARATOR FOR PRINT'ING APPARATUS Raymond Rh Richter, Milwaukee, Wis.

' Application Julyff1946,= SerialN0. 6812515 12 Claims. (Cl. 101-203) 1 The present invention relates in :general to improvements in *theart of printing, and relates more specifically to improvements in'the construction-and operationof devices for-segregating adjoining impressions which :are simultaneously.

tosimultaneou'sly print'twoor more-forms in-different-eolors, with the aid of a common press; and when doing so, considerable difiiculty has heretofore -been-encountered in separating the adjoining difierently colored impressions and in preventing mixing'of the inks "at the adjacent edges of the forms and ofthefinal impressions. When utilizing a Miehle type of press, it "-has heretofore =been attempted to eliminate such undesirable ink mixing: and resultant -messyborders, byeith-e-r groovingtheinktransfer-and distributing rollers along'the adjoining edges of the variant impressions, 'or by providing'separate sets of vthese rollers for-each col-orbeing :u'tilized. While "this 'prior method has 'proven -fairly satisfactory, :it is tedious and costly to employ Joecause of the-necessity of providing difierently spaced-inkseparation grooves ornewroll'ers every time a form of -different widthis utilized; and I have discovered asimplemode of effecting highly satisfactory separation of such variantly colored impressions .in a rapid manner and without grooving or replacing the ink distribution and transfer rollers.

It is therefore a \morerspecific Object of the present invention to provide improved. mechanismofor separating impressions appliedin different colors loythe same printing press, Without changing, grooving or otherwise disturbing any of the normal "ink transfer and distribution rollers.

Another specific objectof thisinvention is to provide .simple,. compact .and highly .Iefficient means for .pro,ducing .clean segregation of diff erently colored printed impressions; applied simultaneously tosuccessive sheets, together with means @whereby v the widths of v --the -;impressions may be convenientlyvariedzby merely making la, few minonadjustments.

.A further specific object of theinvention .is :to provide .an :efiectiveqimpression separating attachment which-'1 may Joe -tapplied at .xmoderate cost to Various types; of .standardiprinting presses;

.2 and which may :be quickly :attached cor. removed when not. desired.

:rSti'll vanother :specific ;object ;of;my,=.invention::is

to :rprovide 2a ::new and .-"'highly "useful color :print.

impression z-segreg-ator xwhich :iiunctions :toautomatically fandaefiectively g produce tclean-icutrmargins :alongzthe: adjacent edges :of variably tcolored. adjoiningiimpressions being simultaneously-sappliedaby :t'hei'same press. ."iThese and other ispecific aObJ'BCtS and :iadvantages ao'f zthe present invention will aloe =.-apparent from athe :ioHowingdetailed :des cription. :A: clear conception-of atypicahembodiment of my :invention, :and eoi tthe -:mode 20f construct n and'oftntilizing devices louilt' 'in accordance therewith, :mayjlce' had'rbyireferringxto the=drawingaaccompanyin'g andzformingi-a partnf this::specification wherein like reference characters designate the same :orcsimilaraparts inizhewariou-szviews.

Fig. 11 1is...-a.idiagrami0f ea ttypical- -Mielile type printing .press -.-showingrithe a ink :distributionzand transfer:rollersandithe'rapproximateilocation of my ,improved separatorwith -:respect .to :these rollers;

i-Fig. :2 is an :enlarged front :elevation 1 of one of the improved link :separating units, 's'showingvthe same cooperating with :an ink transfer and :distribution-roller =and with the pivotal mounting shaft tor the roller B-lg. 3 is :a similarly en'largediside view'of the assemblageshowniin Fig.' 2,showing one ink-removing "knife-"in action during rotation of -'the separator roll 'in one direction, and-also "showing a transverse section -through' thesha'ft and roller taken-along the line-=3-'3-of Fig. 2 ;--and "Fig. 4 is a-likewiseenlarged transverse section throughthesame assemblage taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. -2, I and showing theo'ther ink removing kn'ife inaction during reverse rotation of the separator-roll.

1 "While the invention "has lo'een illustrated and described herein as "being advantageously applicable to printing presses' of i the Miehle type, it is not my'desire or intent to unnecessarily restrict the scope or the -utility "of *the improvement "by virtue 'of -this limited-embodiment.

F Referring especially-" to Fig. :1 of the drawing the Ltypicalcommercial-printing press s'how'n' die-- grammatically therein, comprises in' general -'=a horizontallyreciprocableiformplatebed !"adapted toisupport: any desired numben'of printing plates oraforms :and which is movable back and "forth beneath :a' .ipaper 'carrying cylinder '8 so as to deposit :ssuccessive impressions upon the paper during each :return stroke of "ithg-Jbed .1 asn ink aiaisi plate 9 disposed in horizontal alinement and reciprocable with the bed 1; one or more ink supply fountains I each having a metal ink delivery roller I I therein cooperating with an initial swingably suspended rubber transfer roller [2 to deposit successive batches of ink upon the moving plate 9; and several series or sets of ink distributing and transfer rollers coacting with the upper surfaces of the plate 9 and of the forms carried by the bed 1 so as to uniformly distribute the ink and to transfer the same to the type or printing plates during reciprocation of the ink plate and form plate bed.

As shown, two sets of initial ink distribution rollers extend completely across and coact with the inking plate 9, and each of these initial sets comprises a pair of spaced parallel rubber or composition rollers l4 and anintervening metal roller l5 coacting with the peripheries of both rollers IA of the set. Two sets of final ink distributing and transfer rollers also extend entirely across and coact with the forms or printing plates carried by the bed 1, and each of these final sets comprises a pair of parallel laterally spaced lower rubber or composition rollers I6 resting upon the bed I, a metal roller ll swingably suspended from a pivot shaft 18 and resting upon the peripheries of the two adjacent rollers 16, and an upper rubber or composition roller l9 bearing against the metal roller ll of the set. The upper ink distributing rollers 19 of the two sets are disposed above and on opposite sides of the front pivot shaft [8 and the metal rollers H are adapted to be locked in coaction with the lower rollers IB by means of retaining mechanism not shown, but may be swung out of active position in a well known manner.

The press assemblage above described is of old and well known construction, and any desired number'of adjacent forms or printing plates may be mounted upon the common reciprocating bed I, and may be caused to cooperate with ink supply fountains Ill containing different colored inks, so as to simultaneously print adjacent differently colored impressions upon the paper which is brought in contact with the form plates carried by the bed I. The initial rollers 14 are adapted to engage only the ink plate 9, and this plate 9 is brought forward into contact with the lower rollers l6 whenever the form plate bed is moved forwardly, thus causing the rollers l6 to rotate in one direction during forward movement of the bed 1 and to deliver ink to the revolving rollers l6. During the return stroke of the ink plate 9 and bed 1, these elements contact the rollers 16 and cause them to rotate in the opposite direction, thus causing all of the rollers [6, IT, IS to alternately revolve in opposite directions during normal operation of the press. While the lower rollers I6 are supplied with abundant quantities of ink by the reciprocating plate 9, this relatively tacky printers ink must be uniformly distributed upon these transfer rollers l6, and the metal rollers I'l cooperate with the upper rollers 11, I9 to effect such distribution. However, when simultaneously printing differently colored adjacent impressions from plates or forms mounted upon the common bed 1, the adjacent colors tend to spread out and intermingle at the margins of the impressions, and some means for preventing such intermingling of colors must be provided in order to produce sharp and unmarred boundaries.

As shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, I have provided simple, compact and highly efiicient means for separating the different colored inks along the iii longitudinally reciprocating margins of the forms or printing plates, and the improved means comprises independent units adapted to be supported upon and adjustable to any position along the pivot shaft l8. Each of these color separating and surplus ink removing units consists of a supporting arm or bracket 2! having a split lower end embracing the shaft [8 and adapted to be clamped thereto by a clamping screw 22, and being provided at its upper end with an elongated slot 23; a link 24 having its medial portion provided with a clamping screw 25 passing through and movable along the slot 23, while its upper end carries a stub shaft 26 and its lower end is provided with a pivot shaft 21 both firmly secured to the link 24; a metallic in-k removing roll 28 journalled for rotation upon the upper stub shaft 26 and adapted to snugly engage the peripheries of both of the upper rubber ink distributing rollers IS; a pair of ink scraper blades or knives 30, 3| carried by a block 32 which is swingably mounted upon the lower pivot shaft 21, these blades being alternately engageable with the periphery of the roll 28; a toggle arm 33' secured to a friction collar 34 which embraces the upper shaft 26 and coacts with the roll '28, the arm 33 having its lower end cooperable with the knife carrying block 32 to swing the blades 30, 3| in opposite directions as the direction of rotation of the roll 28 is reversed; a helical compression spring 35 for frictionally urging the roll 28 against the toggle actuating collar 34; ball bearings 35, 35" having the stationary rings thereof coacting respectively with spring 35 and link 24 and the movable rings coacting respectively with roll 28 and collar 34; and a surplus ink catching receptacle 36 removably mounted upon the shaft l8 beneath the knives 3|, 32.

Obviously each of these surplus ink removing units may be positioned at any desired location along the supporting shaft M3 by merely manipulating the clamping screw 22, and the ink removing roll '28 is preferably formed of hard metal such as steel and with a smooth periphery of approximately the same width as the distance between adjacent forms or printing plates carried by the bed I. The smooth periphery of each roll 28 may be caused to bear against the adjacent soft rubber rollers IS with considerable pressure suflicient to cause the ink to be transferred from the contacted areas of these rollers 19 to the roll periphery, with the aid of the slots 23 and clamping screws 25, and the roll 28 of each active unit is constantly rotated by the revolving rollers 19.

;-. The upper stub shaft 26 which carries the roll 28 may be firmly secured to the vertically adjustable link with the aid of a clamping nut 38, and the tension of the spring 35 which frictionally confines the toggle collar 34 may be varied with the aid of nuts 39 coacting with the free end of the stub shaft 26. The scraper blades or knives 30, 31 which may be secured to the toggle block 32 in any suitable manner, are preferably formed U-shaped as shown in Fig. 2, in order to prevent removed ink from lodging upon the block 32; and this block 32 is retained upon the lower pivot shaft 21 by a nut 40 and is provided with an upper socket with which the lower end of the toggle arm 33 coacts, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The surplus ink catching receptacle 36 is loosely and removably suspended from the pivot shaft l8 as shown in Fig. 4, and may be of any desired capacity but shaped so as not to interfere with upward swinging of the adjacent rollers ll, l9.

During normal operation of the press and use -36, and; these receptaclescare;conveniently..re-

P5 improved sorpius inkeseparators and removers; the fmiit 81y?be reafdily applied toi-the 'pivot shaft' 8 in -airy 'de redqooation-so that the 'rjoiis zawm pe ibcatdgmane planes-es the dividadj aeent colored impreseliets' ll shb'uid fthen "be W withtthe a d of the clamping screws 22 and rolls l8 should be caused to' beaifi smi-gly g as tl-ie-peripheriesof "the r-relatively soft i' dlsti ibi'ition rollers l9 by adjusting -the=l relatiye-' to the frames or brackets I with -th d of *ti-ie'clamping screws andslots "23f" The sienjof tliesprings35 s'ho also-be adjusted so ias topause the-rolls -i'ti e-theadjao'ent togth bla; els'gor knivesj fll, 3| harp e1ges adapted-to W i'iries' of {the adjacent of the should be prov e'n gag'efthe' fsino iiik reniovaI'roi-IS 28'. 'ziwfi eth' iza mma ges pr umts have'beem thus properly appl e to't'h aiid thepressis'be *ing opcra'ited, 'thdi'awn' from the :rounta'ins H1 M Q ateQ Both the ink I 'late' (if? will becontinuously' recipro' tin as -toproduce successive impres'sions u fthe peroo 4 s lt *the hard iiieital rollers sp as -to applyanddis tributeth'e inkiipb torinspr type platescarried -'by-.-the bed"! uppers'oftrollers l9 will be pressed-ffirmly "and the separating from l the rollers waiohg'tth ttween -th8 siiccessive *eolor bothr'fortv'ard and y tribution roll'ers ,JIT, I59. Theihkthus re- 'moved-froin theseloeal zones will be scraped from the peripheri'e -of th 'rol-1s'*-28-- an-d-deposited into 'the receptacles f by' P knife blades 30, 3 l. During' cloekyviseri'otation df tliefrollsili as viewed in Figsi 3- and 4'; 'the kiiiife blades 3f -Z=will' -be*efiective to 'removeithe-siirpliis ifik anawhen reversal either-b11518 I takes; place i-tl-ie toggie a'rms' 313 will withdraw 'th blades 31 t m the' adjacent-rolls 28 and Will cause theothr blatles' M 'to become eifective a s inlg removers. This alternate shifting-of the blades 'takes place automatically as the directionpfr, rotatign pLtherolls 28 is reversed, and is effectedthe-friction collars 34 ami t s learms &3 ,=with.the-;aid qf:the.springs?35. By thus removing the ink alongxl heimarginal areas of the impressipns,,intermingling of different colors is" definitely avoid'd and clear-cut borders along the opposites-asides of theiimpresis'ionssresult.

1 :Erom theiforegoing.detaiieni description of the ilcjonstruction andpperationcpfzthe improved-suriplus inkzremoveriandholor impression separator, f itiwill. be zapparent,,that .my:ipresent i invention provides a simple, compact, and automatically functioning device for most effectively separating the adjacent impressions and for preventing intermingling of the differently colored inks. The improved units positively avoid necessity of groow'ng or otherwise marring or separating the ink transfer rollers l9, and may be shifted to any position longitudinally of these rollers l9 so as to cooperate with forms or printing plates of different widths, and each unit may be readily adjusted 'so as to insure most effective functioning thereof. The removed ink may drop freely through the U-shaped blades 30, 3| into the receptacles movable for cleaning. 'Therolls; Zhnasi. performed of any-desired .widthiahdidiameter, and :maysbe caused to=cooperate withieithenoneiorcbothgoii the adjacent arollers t9, sand 1 the: improved; appliance has provenihighly satisfactoryand sucoessfuhin actual commercial use :and :may :be applied to .variousitypes ofprinting presses. i'lheiimproved devices'mayrobviouslybe: (applied or. removed==with Avery little-effort, and may 'be manufacturedsand sold at 'm'oderate .-cost.z for. effective cooperation with: standard presses,:;andi the vtoggle-1assemblage for automatically shifting the blades. 3fi,-s3 l ,zfunc- --tions with. asnap action. 80.251110; maintainbne of I'these scraperiknives ieffectiveat .all times. I "Itshould be un'derstoo'dithat itis not desirerhto limitthis invention :tovthe exact details of .construction orto the precise -mode=of use, aherein :shbwn and -'.'described, .for .various .modifications z-within the-scope. ofrthe appended .ciaimszmayt-ocour to persons. skilledsin the.- art.

Isclaim: 1. An ink separating device foria .press assemblagei'havinga pair ofx elongated parallel-:.sot:ink distribution rollers for applying difierentacolore'd -ink to. adjacent impression plates, a roll having -a hard and smooth periphermdrivingly.engaging and "removing the. ink 'fromcthe .portions ofshoth distributing rollers which .coactrvvith the. area. between. adjacent impression plates, and a-pair of lbladesi for scrapingjthexremoved' ink from the. roll iperiphery.

2. .An ink separating. device :for: a press :assem- .bIagehaving a pair of: elongatedparallel softink Q. distribution. rollers for .applyingzdifferent. colored :ink :to. adjacent impression plates, a-roll having a hard and smooth periphery drivingly engaging and removingithe; ink: from lthe portions of both distributing rollers which =c0act- :with i the -.;area I between adjacent :impr-ession plates, .a pair of blades forzscraping the removed; inkefrom: the; roll periphery, and-:means for effecting adjustment.- of said roll 'for' cooperation awith'said rollers. at. any

locality throughout-the length. of the; latter.

:3. sAn'ink separating; deviceior. arpress. assem- 'blagei having a;pair of. elongatedparallel soft ink distribution. rollers .forsapplyingidifferent colored ink to adjacent impression plates, a roll shaving a hard and vsmooth: periphery ,drivingly: engaging 59 rand removing the ink. from. the portions. ofsboth :distributing rollers which'coact with the area b'etweenadjacent impression plates, a pairuof l-blades alternately cooperable .with said roll :to :scrapeithe removed ink from the roll periphery,

-andtoggle mechanismpperable upon reversal of the direction of rotationof said roll 'for alter- .nately moving one of-said bladesinto active. and the other: into inactive position.

:4; Anink separatingxdevice'for. a press assemfifl blage having a pair. of-elongatedparallel soft ink distribution rollers for applying difierent colored ink'ito 'adjacentimpression plates, a roll havinga hard and smooth periphery drivinglyengaging and removing the ink from the portions of both distributing rollers which coact with the area between adjacent impression plates, a pair of blades alternately cooperable with said roll to scrape the removed ink from the roll periphery, toggle mechanism operable upon reversal of the direc- 79 tion of rotation of said roll for alternately movthe latter.

5. In an ink separating device for a press assemblage having a pair of spaced ink distribution rollers for supplying difierently colored ink to adjacent impression plates, a roll for constantly separating ink from the portions of both of the distributing rollers coacting with the area between the impression plates, and a pair of knife blades for alternately scraping the separated ink from said roll, said blades being alternately movable into and out of contact with said roll by reversal of the direction of rotation of the latter to place one blade into active position whenever the other is inactive and vice versa.

6. In an ink separating device for a press assemblage having a relatively soft cylindrical ink distribution roller for transferring different colored inks from sources of supply to adjacent impression members, a roll having a hard and smooth cylindrical peripheral surface contacting and separating ink from a local selected surface portion of the distribution roller between adjacent impressions without defacing the soft contacted roller surface, and means for constantly removing the separated ink from the roll periphery.

'7. In an ink separating device for a press assemblage having a relatively soft rotary cylindrical ink distribution roller for transferring different colored inks from sources of supply to adjacent impression members, a cylindrical relatively hard roll contacting a local selected peripheral portion of the rotary ink distribution roller and being driven thereby without deforming the contacted roller periphery to separate ink between adjacent impression regions, and means for constantly removing the separated ink from said rotating roll.

8. The method of removing surplus ink from a relatively soft rotary cylindrical ink distribution roller while transferring difierent colored inks from sources of supply to adjacent impression members, which comprises, subjecting a local peripheral portion of the rotating distribution roller to a rolling pressure action to separate the ink therefrom between adjacent differently colored impression region-s while avoiding deformation of the soft roller surface, and constantly removing the separated surplus ink.

9. In an ink separating device for a press assemblage having an elongated soft peripherally continuous and smooth ink distribution roller for applying different colored ink to adjacent impression plates, a roll having a hard and smooth periphery formed with straight line generatrices and positioned with said periphery snugl engaging a peripheral portion of the distributing roller without indenting the adjacent surface thereof but engaging said roller with sufiicient pressure to remove ink from the peripheral area of contact to the periphery of said roll upon rotation of said roller, and a scraper blade for constantly removing the separated ink from the roll periphery.

10. In an ink separating device for a press assemblage having an elongated soft peripherally continuous and smooth ink distribution roller for applying different colored ink to adjacent impression plates, a roll having a hard and smooth periphery formed with straight line generatrices and positioned with said periphery snugly engaging a peripheral portion of the distributing roller without indenting the adjacent surface thereof but engaging said roller with sufficient pressure to remove ink from the peripheral area of contact to the periphery of said roll upon rotation of said roller, a scraper blade for constantly removing the separated ink from the roll periphery, and means for effecting adjustment of said roll for cooperation with said roller at any locality throughout the length of the latter.

11. In an ink separating device for a press assemblage having a relatively soft cylindrical rotary ink distribution roller having a smooth continuous surface for transferring different colored ink from sources of supply to adjacent impression members, a roll having a smooth peripheral surface formed with straight line generatrices and engaging a selected local peripheral surface portion of the ink distribution roller and positioned to effect such engagement without indentation of the surface of said roller, said roll being operable by the revolving contacted surface of the roller to remove ink from the area of contact with said roller and to segregate the differently colored inks being transferred.

12. In an ink separating device for a press assemblage comprising an elongated relatively soft peripherally continuous and smooth ink distribution roller for applying different colored ink to adjacent impression surfaces, a roll having a hard and smooth periphery snugly engaging and separating ink from a peripheral portion of the distribution roller which coacts with the area between the adjacent impression surfaces without indenting the adjacent periphery, a pair of scraper blades alternately cooperable with said roll to scrape the removed ink from the roll periphery, and means operable upon reversal of direction of rotation of said roll for alternately moving one of said blades into active and th other into inactive position.

RAYMOND R. RICHTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS George June 27, 1939 

